Anna doemitzee



(No Model.)

A. DORMITZER.

ORNAMENTAL STEP LADDER.

No. 336,219. Patentedl-eb. 16, 1886.

N. PETERS, Phowumn hnr. walhingion. u. c.

forming a rectangular frame.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANNA DORMITZER, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

ORNAMENTAL STEP-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 336,219, dated February 16, 1886.

Application filed December 30, 1895. Serial No. 187,119. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANNA DORMITZER, a citizen of the United States of North A merica, and a'resident of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ornamental Step-Ladders, of which the following is aspecification.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved and useful article of household furniture.

The invention consists of a folding stepladder of novel construction having its back covered with or composed of an ornamental panel or picture, so that it can be applied to the ordinary purposes of a step-ladder, and when not in use can be suspended from a wall as an ornament.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the device folded in position for suspension from a wall. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same folded. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same folded, and with supporting-rod in operative position. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the device open. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of the device, showing the supportingrod in operative position. Fig. 6 shows some details of devices for holding the supporting rod in position.

In the drawings, A represents the front section of the device, consisting of two vertical parallel side bars, a a, held in position at top and bottom by cross-bars b b, the four bars Between the side bars are pivoted steps 0 c, which, when opened for use, as shown in Fig. 4, are held in position by jointed braces d d, and when closed fold flush with the faces of the side bars, as indicated in Fig. 3.

The back section, B, of my device is a rectangular frame, f f g g,made narrower than the frame a a b b by as much as the thickness of the side bars a a. The upper end of this back section is hinged or pivoted at h h to the upper end of the front section, so that it may be swung out to form the rear supporting leg or legs of the step-ladder, as shown in Fig. 4, or maybe closed, as shown in Fig. 3, within the sides a a, and flush with or below their rear faces. This back section, B, may be strengthened by a cross bar or bars, if desired.

It will be seen that this step-ladder is devoid of the usual step on the top, and that the absence of this top step is an important feature of my device, for otherwise it would not hang perpendicularly against a wall.

Secured ou the back section, B, and forming the outer or exposed face of the same, is a panel, 0, (shown in Fig. 1,) which may be of wood, paper, plush, silk, canvas, or other suitable material,with some decorative or ornamental design, as at m, Fig. 1, painted, printed, embroidered, or otherwise fixed on it, according to fancy; or the said panel may be per se of ornamental material. A handle, D, secured on the upper bar of section a, euables the user to carry the ladder about, and also serves to suspend it by on a wall.

\Vhen the device is not in use as a ladder, it may be closed and hung on a wall out of the way, and be recognized then only as a picture or ornamental hanging.

Pivoted on one of the side bars a, near the top thereof, is a stout rod, E, which, when turned up in position, as shown in Figs. 3and 6, is held in place and prevented from moving laterally by stud b and catch r, and in this position serves as a hand-support for any one using the steps. WVhcn not required for use, said rod E may be turned down, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and be so secured by like devices p r.

Instead of being pivoted or hung, asshown, so as to swing, the supporting-rod E may be I a telescopic one, to be shortened or lengthened at will, or may be arranged to slide up and round on a side of the step-ladder.

Having thus described my invention, Iclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. An ornamental step-ladder, constructed substantially as herein shown and described, consisting of frame-sections A B, pivoted together, folding steps 0, braces d, and ornamental panel O, all arranged and adapted for use as and for the purposes described.

2. The combination, with a step-ladder of the character substantially as herein described, of an ornamental or decorative panel forming part thereof, as set forth.

In testimony-that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed'm'y name in presence of two witnesses, this 24th day of December, 1885.

3. The combination, with the step-ladder A B U, of handle D and supporting-rod E, all arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described, and for the pur- 5 poses set forth.

4. A step-ladder constructed substantially ANN A DORMITZER. as herein shown and described, devoid of a step on top, the front section having one or Witnesses: more folding steps, and the rear section ar- JAOOBJJSTORER, 1o ranged to fold within the front section, sub- PHIL. B. WEELALEY.

stantially as herein shown and described. 

